Cost Per View Calculator

Calculate the cost of each qualified video view, the primary efficiency unit for video campaigns.

About Cost Per View Calculator

Dividing spend by the number of views gives the unit economics of the channel. The reciprocal — views delivered per unit of currency — is shown alongside, because that is the figure to maximise when a budget is fixed. Unit cost is the only number that lets you compare channels with wildly different budgets, and it is the input every bid and budget decision ultimately rests on.

Formula

Cost Per View

Cost Per View = Video ad spend ÷ Qualified views

Video ad spend: Total amount spent in the period
Qualified views: Countable outcomes delivered for that spend

Worked example

With the default values below, Cost Per View Calculator returns Cost Per View of $0.0150. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Video ad spendminimum 0: 3,600
Qualified viewsminimum 0: 240,000

Results

Cost Per View: $0.0150
Views per Unit of Spend: 66.67
Spend per 1,000 views: $15.00
Views Needed to Justify Spend at Current Rate: 240,000

Step by step

1Values used
2Cost Per View
3Cost Per View= 0.0150
4Views per Unit of Spend= 66.67
5Spend per 1,000 views= 15.00
6Views Needed to Justify Spend at Current Rate= 240,000

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
This is an estimate for general information and not professional financial, tax or legal advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Cost Per View calculated?

Cost Per View = Video ad spend ÷ Qualified views Dividing spend by the number of views gives the unit economics of the channel. The reciprocal — views delivered per unit of currency — is shown alongside, because that is the figure to maximise when a budget is fixed.

Why does Cost Per View matter?

Unit cost is the only number that lets you compare channels with wildly different budgets, and it is the input every bid and budget decision ultimately rests on.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 2 inputs: Video ad spend, Qualified views. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.